The Conservative Librarian would like to point out that being a conservative does not mean one is slow moving or resistant to change. Conservatives are all about change, but doing so in an efficient manner. And that brings us to this week's buzz: Amazon's announcement that Kindle owners will soon be able to borrow the formerly non-compatible e-books from their libraries. This has many libraries e-lated! The e-book collection, which surprisingly has taken off like gangbusters, will become even more popular now that there is a bigger market in library land! Oh, thank you Amazon and e-books, for saving us from extinction! Now that we are technologically relevant, we can go back to answering reference questions and cataloguing encyclopedias.
Well, the Conservative Librarian wouldn't break out the bubbly just yet. Don't get her wrong. She is not a book-hugger who insists that there is nothing better than feeling paper between her fingers and the sound of cracking open the spine of a brand new book. Far from it. E books are fabulous! She owns one herself and, though she is a public librarian, infinitely prefers to download a book rather than get on a waiting list for new releases from her library. So, for her, the arguments about the physical attributes of a printed novel are really a moot point. ( Something tells her a similar conversation took place between two monks discussing that Guttenberg guy's thing called the printing press. Yeah, it's a novelty and people might like it for a while, but nothing can replace the love and care that we put into illuminating our crafted tomes. It'll never catch on.). The problem is that while libraries may purchase the rights to distribute ebooks, we essentially own nothing. We did not develop ebooks, we do not have a patent on ebooks and we physically do not house any of the hardware necessary to make any transition happen. Basically we are a middle man.
What's wrong with that? Well, nothing for right now. But let's take a look at another famous middle man: Blockbuster Video.
When VCRs emerged on the market, so did video stores and they had a great niche. You no longer had to wait and hope for an award winning movie to come to television or cable. You could rent it and see it immediately for a nominal fee. It was cheaper than going to the movie theater, you could watch it as many times as you liked and if you needed to go to the bathroom you didn't have to miss anything--just hit pause.
For 25 years, this worked great. Blockbuster and other video stores were the library of visual entertainment and they were relevant and prosperous as long as there were video and DVD machines. Then, enter the digital age when technology made it possible for for videos to be directly downloaded to computers and, from those computers, viewed on television. For a while, video stores still had a place, but became more and more unnecessary as more and more homes became computerized. Oh, they tried: rent two get one free, free popcorn, guaranteed to always be in stock. But ultimately it was all about convenience and, yes, laziness. Who wants to schlep around to the video store in the pouring rain and waste gas when you can hit a button and watch a movie all without leaving your couch? Where is Blockbuster now?
Really, how long do you think it is going to take before Amazon, Overdrive and their kin realize that you can cut out the middle man and make more money that way? How long before they appeal directly to the public? How long before libraries find themselves right back to where they were? The willingness to circulate ebooks is great, but it hasn't solved the problem that public libraries have with relevance to their communities. The fact that libraries are a centuries-old institution isn't going to save them. For thousands of years, horses were the preferred means of transportation, until that thing called a car came along. We've lost the reference battle to the Internet years ago. We can no longer afford to let or hope that others will find our niche for us. We need to be proactive and find it ourselves and when we do, ride that wave high and fast with everything we've got. No more paralysis by analysis.
So much for being a slow-moving Conservative Librarian.
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Responsibility in Liberal Land
When the Conservative Librarian was but a wee lass, she remembers getting her first library card. It was safely tucked inside her mother's wallet because it was an item of responsibility. It meant you could open up the doors of knowledge and borrow any book in the library for free. It meant you were responsible for the care and well being of any materials you had the privilege to borrow. It was the first card that meant something---for a five year old, right up there with a driver's license and credit card. it was an item of privilege and a sign of growing up.
Fast forward to the future. The CL is on the desk at her new library when a twelve year old girl walks up and says "Can I have my library card?"
The CL doesn't understand. Did the girl lose her card and wanted to check lost and found? Had she filled out a card application somewhere else in the library and was awaiting her card? The girl and the CL look at each other. Clearly something is missing here.
Then the CL's colleague directs her to a file box. It is filled with hundreds of children's library cards. She is told that the library keeps them here so the kids won't lose them. Well, if we have their cards up on the second floor and the check-out desk is on the first floor, how do the kids checkout books? Well, they don't. The cards are kept so the kids can use the computers. The Conservative Librarian is more horrified to learn that there is a similar box for adults on the first floor.
So we want to increase our circulation stats, but we hang on to the cards so no one can check out books. Gotcha.
The CL won't even go down the road of teachable moments, helping kids learn about responsibility and the dumbing down of a community. Clearly, it's more important to make sure the kids can play online video games after school. Isn't intellectual freedom a wonderful thing?
Fast forward to the future. The CL is on the desk at her new library when a twelve year old girl walks up and says "Can I have my library card?"
The CL doesn't understand. Did the girl lose her card and wanted to check lost and found? Had she filled out a card application somewhere else in the library and was awaiting her card? The girl and the CL look at each other. Clearly something is missing here.
Then the CL's colleague directs her to a file box. It is filled with hundreds of children's library cards. She is told that the library keeps them here so the kids won't lose them. Well, if we have their cards up on the second floor and the check-out desk is on the first floor, how do the kids checkout books? Well, they don't. The cards are kept so the kids can use the computers. The Conservative Librarian is more horrified to learn that there is a similar box for adults on the first floor.
So we want to increase our circulation stats, but we hang on to the cards so no one can check out books. Gotcha.
The CL won't even go down the road of teachable moments, helping kids learn about responsibility and the dumbing down of a community. Clearly, it's more important to make sure the kids can play online video games after school. Isn't intellectual freedom a wonderful thing?
Friday, April 15, 2011
A liberal look at circulation
So the library circulation statistics are down. The solution? Let's let the public take out an unlimited number of books! One, one hundred or one thousand. . . Who cares? If we give them unlimited access our numbers are bound to go up right? And initially they do. And there is much rejoicing.
But the celebration is short lived. Why? Because the person who in a fit of greed took out 50 children's books and returned them a week later discovered that he now had a $35 fine on his card. Ridiculous! He'll pay it later---NOT. Suddenly we're back to where we started.
The Conservative Librarian wonders what libraries had hoped to get out of this short term gain? Are libraries now up for sale and need to look good to prospective buyers? Are the directors taking a page from Bernie Madoff's book, preparing to do a runner to New Orleans leaving staff and patrons high and dry? Not at all! They believe in free and equal access under the First Amendment. Why should we limit our patrons' quest for knowledge and intellectual freedom by imposing limits on the number of items borrowed. This is America! liberty and access to information for all!!!!!
Well, it's not easy being a conservative in a liberal world and the Conservative Librarian is adaptable to her surroundings. Sure, she'll go along with this, even though behind closed doors she rolls her eyes and sighs heavily at this screwball notion. Weeding the collection, buying newer materials and marketing the collection simply aren't options when it comes to increasing circulation! Free access is free access. Far be it from her to deny anyone the right to access information.
Enter little Jihaad (no kidding, that is his name), a ten year old boy with a smile like the Artful Dodger and a rap sheet twice as long. He owes $40 in fines for overdue video games and has been known to steal library card numbers from his friends to beat the system. He asks the Conservative Librarian for his password to use the computer. She gives it to him with a hidden smile. The Internet computers will
automatically block anyone with a fine over $10. The computer would be the bad guy and she wouldn't have to. Jihaad walks over to the
computer, pokes in his number and password and gets right on! The Artful Dodger wins!
So maybe the Conservative Librarian is missing something here. She rechecks his card. Yeah, it's him alright. The fine is still there. But
here is the kicker---Jihaad's ability to check out books is blocked. He can't help the library circ by borrowing books, but he can use the Internet to his heart's content---which is all he really wants to do anyway, play games on the computer.
The Conservative Librarian believes in policies and procedures. Clearly there is a system snafu that needs to be worked out. She contacts
her IT person and explains her findings. Surely things will be fixed now. The IT director looks at Jihaad's record, rolls the mouse around a bit, clicks on a few buttons, shrugs, says "Oh well." And walks away.
The Conservative Librarian was upset at first, but then decided to use this as a growth moment. Little Jihaad has been growing on her and lack of circ means there are less books to be shelved and less back bending and shelf reading for her. Life is good in liberal land!
But the celebration is short lived. Why? Because the person who in a fit of greed took out 50 children's books and returned them a week later discovered that he now had a $35 fine on his card. Ridiculous! He'll pay it later---NOT. Suddenly we're back to where we started.
The Conservative Librarian wonders what libraries had hoped to get out of this short term gain? Are libraries now up for sale and need to look good to prospective buyers? Are the directors taking a page from Bernie Madoff's book, preparing to do a runner to New Orleans leaving staff and patrons high and dry? Not at all! They believe in free and equal access under the First Amendment. Why should we limit our patrons' quest for knowledge and intellectual freedom by imposing limits on the number of items borrowed. This is America! liberty and access to information for all!!!!!
Well, it's not easy being a conservative in a liberal world and the Conservative Librarian is adaptable to her surroundings. Sure, she'll go along with this, even though behind closed doors she rolls her eyes and sighs heavily at this screwball notion. Weeding the collection, buying newer materials and marketing the collection simply aren't options when it comes to increasing circulation! Free access is free access. Far be it from her to deny anyone the right to access information.
Enter little Jihaad (no kidding, that is his name), a ten year old boy with a smile like the Artful Dodger and a rap sheet twice as long. He owes $40 in fines for overdue video games and has been known to steal library card numbers from his friends to beat the system. He asks the Conservative Librarian for his password to use the computer. She gives it to him with a hidden smile. The Internet computers will
automatically block anyone with a fine over $10. The computer would be the bad guy and she wouldn't have to. Jihaad walks over to the
computer, pokes in his number and password and gets right on! The Artful Dodger wins!
So maybe the Conservative Librarian is missing something here. She rechecks his card. Yeah, it's him alright. The fine is still there. But
here is the kicker---Jihaad's ability to check out books is blocked. He can't help the library circ by borrowing books, but he can use the Internet to his heart's content---which is all he really wants to do anyway, play games on the computer.
The Conservative Librarian believes in policies and procedures. Clearly there is a system snafu that needs to be worked out. She contacts
her IT person and explains her findings. Surely things will be fixed now. The IT director looks at Jihaad's record, rolls the mouse around a bit, clicks on a few buttons, shrugs, says "Oh well." And walks away.
The Conservative Librarian was upset at first, but then decided to use this as a growth moment. Little Jihaad has been growing on her and lack of circ means there are less books to be shelved and less back bending and shelf reading for her. Life is good in liberal land!
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Like most librarians, I am an advocate for our profession. I believe with my whole heart that the public library is one of the few public ally funded agencies that truly benefits everyone in our society equally. It doesn't matter what your race, religion, age, economic situation or gender is---anyone can get a library card. All are welcome to use the computers and borrow materials. Everyone can attend library programs. And if the library doesn't have what you want or need, we'll get it for you. Information is us and we will be the first to defend your right to access that information no matter what it is. Your First Amendment rights are sacred to librarians.
This year, public library funding has yet taken another hit in the state of Pennsylvania and library workers are yet again bracing themselves for the fallout. Layoffs, reductions in collection budgets, fewer hours of operation and threats of closures have become yearly expectations. It is regrettable, but we are all expected to understand. It's the economy.
Now here is where the Conservative Librarian cannot believe her ears. The American Library Association, though they are well aware of the financial plight of libraries around the nation, continue to plan, hold and encourage attendance at the annual convention---and library administrators across the land are happily planning to attend.
Why?
Because "it's a necessary part of our profession to keep on top of things"???? Oh, puhlease! Get real, people! It's an excuse to get out of the office for a couple of days and take an all-expense paid vacation to New Orleans where you go to a few workshops, get fussed over by vendors and party with your pals!
No one I know of, including myself, has ever attended one of these conventions and brought back anything of value from it, except for maybe some tote bags or magnets.
And who pays for this gathering of professional greats?
Since it is done for the library, many libraries factor convention attendance into their yearly budgets. It isn't cheap. Sending two delagates for
this week-long convention can easily run up to $10,000 in airfare, hotel accommodations, meals, and entrance fees.
Even if the attendees pay their own way, they are still paid their usual salaries while attending. This is business, after all!
Is this really the most effective use of employee time and money?
At a time of economic crisis where we are all being asked to do our part and conserve what little funding we have, I'd like to toss a challenge out to all library administrators---set an example for your staff and don't go. ALA---consider holding a "virtual convention" online. You set the tone for your libraries, own up to it. It's hard for your frontline staff to justify reductions in hours and lack of materials while you're off partying in the Big Easy.
This year, public library funding has yet taken another hit in the state of Pennsylvania and library workers are yet again bracing themselves for the fallout. Layoffs, reductions in collection budgets, fewer hours of operation and threats of closures have become yearly expectations. It is regrettable, but we are all expected to understand. It's the economy.
Now here is where the Conservative Librarian cannot believe her ears. The American Library Association, though they are well aware of the financial plight of libraries around the nation, continue to plan, hold and encourage attendance at the annual convention---and library administrators across the land are happily planning to attend.
Why?
Because "it's a necessary part of our profession to keep on top of things"???? Oh, puhlease! Get real, people! It's an excuse to get out of the office for a couple of days and take an all-expense paid vacation to New Orleans where you go to a few workshops, get fussed over by vendors and party with your pals!
No one I know of, including myself, has ever attended one of these conventions and brought back anything of value from it, except for maybe some tote bags or magnets.
And who pays for this gathering of professional greats?
Since it is done for the library, many libraries factor convention attendance into their yearly budgets. It isn't cheap. Sending two delagates for
this week-long convention can easily run up to $10,000 in airfare, hotel accommodations, meals, and entrance fees.
Even if the attendees pay their own way, they are still paid their usual salaries while attending. This is business, after all!
Is this really the most effective use of employee time and money?
At a time of economic crisis where we are all being asked to do our part and conserve what little funding we have, I'd like to toss a challenge out to all library administrators---set an example for your staff and don't go. ALA---consider holding a "virtual convention" online. You set the tone for your libraries, own up to it. It's hard for your frontline staff to justify reductions in hours and lack of materials while you're off partying in the Big Easy.
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